Pillsbury Complete Cookbook: Recipes from America's Most-Trusted Kitchens (Hardcover)

~ Pillsbury Company (Author) "Hot or cold, simple or fancy, appetizers welcome guests and get the party off to a congenial start..." (more)
Key Phrases: dietary exchanges, heat using times, resealable food storage plastic bag, Total Carbohydrate, Medium-Fat Meat, Cup Calories (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

How many times have you found yourself searching through five different cookbooks for a few simple things--those terrific stuffed mushrooms, Mom's mashed potatoes, something new to do with asparagus, and which cut of pork to use for the best chops? Pillsbury's Complete Cookbook may be the answer to all your rummaging. Capturing down-home cooking at its finest, the chefs at Pillsbury have not only compiled a list of America's favorite recipes, they've created a handy reference guide to boot. The table of contents runs the gamut of American cuisine, featuring traditional fare such as Pot Roast and Gravy and Grown-up Macaroni and Cheese, as well as recipes with a modern twist like Tofu Piccata and Grilled Walleye with Pecan Butter. With menu ideas, step-by-step instructional photographs, nutritional information, dietary exchange recommendations, cook's notes, and buying guides, the Complete Cookbook proves true to its name. And, the five-ring-binder format stays open while you're cooking and allows you to include your celebrated family secrets throughout. --Melissa Asher

Product Description

The Ultimate Kitchen Companion
Every recipe triple-tested in Pillsbury's famous kitchens
Easy-to-use, lie-flat ring-binder format lets cooks customize their cookbooks
Nearly 1,000 recipes that celebrate the way Americans are eating today
More than 300 full-color photographs, including step-by-step photos illustrating various cooking techniques and ingredients
Common ingredients and easy-to-follow directions ensure excellent results
Cooking Basics section, featuring nutrition information, cooking charts, ingredient information, emergency substitutions storage hints, menu planning and suggestions, up-to-date food safety information and the most complete glossary in a ring-bound cookbook
Low in Fat and 20 Minutes or Less recipes are listed on chapter dividers for easy reference
Cook's Notes, ingredient and cooking charts and clearly illustrated step-by-step technique instructions included throughout
High altitude directions provided

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; Ringbound edition (April 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609602845
• ISBN-13: 978-0609602843
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 10.1 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #194,016 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If I could have only one cookbook, this would be the one!, September 14, 2000

By	Soozie4Him (Chicago suburbs) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I eagerly awaited the release of this cookbook because I have the yellow ring-bound Pillsbury Cookbook that was published back in 1979. The yellow Pillsbury cookbook has been my all-time favorite cookbook of all time. I've made MANY recipes from there over the years.

Pillsbury makes incredible cookbooks (as well as those monthly cookbook magazines you can get by mail or at the grocery store check-out!) and this new one is no exception.

It has all the basics that a beginning cook needs to know - how long to cook a beef roast, emergency substitutions, a chapter on freezing and canning, a cooking glossary, a guide to utensils, and much more!

I love the ring-bound format because the book lays flat (I'd recommend a page-protector or some plastic over the recipe as you're working though, to prevent spills on your new cookbook! <g>).

This cookbook's recipes are for just plain good cooking! Not a lot of exotic ingredients are included, but you will find some of the more recent additions into cookbooks such as a chapter on Vegetarian Cooking.

The cookbook is divided into 12 sections, each separated by a very lightweight cardboard stock with a tab of the same paper extending past the edges of the recipe pages, indicating the topic of that section. The reason I mention this is that I really feel that Pillsbury could've spent a little more on this cookbook and made the dividers from a stiffer cardboard and made the divider tabs especially in such a way where they would stand up to heavy use (since this cookbook is one you might use constantly!).

Perhaps I'm spoiled by having the other one, but in the 1979 model, the dividing pages have much stiffer cardboard and I just recently lost the first tab from that cookbook - after 21 years!!

The 1979 yellow edition was ahead of it's time by providing full nutrition facts, including fat grams! My other criticism of the new book is that the Nutrition Information is printed in such teeny-tiny print that it's quite hard to read! The Nutrition info text in the old cookbook is quite a bit larger!

Perhaps Pillsbury was saving space by using a small font, but personally I'd rather pay a few extra dollars and get a cookbook which will stand stand the test of time in both readability and durability.

Please note that these are the ONLY criticisms I have of this fine cookbook! It is a wonderful basic cookbook to have on hand! And it would make an excellent gift for any cook, from the newly married and just starting out, to the experienced cook.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Pillsbury Cookbook, May 12, 2000

By A Customer

This cookbook is filled with recipes, pictures, and helpful advice for a person to follow directions while cooking/baking. It's easy to read and allows you to choose from a variety of choices.

Also, the good hints a person needs while baking is exceptionally worthwhile. I would recommend this book to a beginner, as well as someone who's baked for a number of years.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pillsbury Scores BIG With This One!!, September 22, 2002

By	Daniel F. Moore (Yarmouth, Maine USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of those cookbooks that rates a 'Must Have' tag. It is comprehensive, extremely well indexed, and will meet the needs of the most or least experienced cook. The recipes are easy to follow and the ingredient list is readily available, if not already on the shelf or in the pantry.
I needed a quick recipe to take to a meeting where I was one of those responsible for refreshments. I chose the Fresh Apple Coffee Cake. You have to prepare the Refrigerated Coffee Cake Dough beforehand for this recipe. Well, it turned out beautifully. The dough rose as specified and the texture was moist and cake-like. Suffice it to say, there was nothing left in the pan. I have also made several of the soups, including Cheddar Cheese and Vegetable Beef with Barley. These recipes are 'keepers' and will work well as a lunch serving for those of you who, like me, don't like to take sandwiches to work.
In addition to the recipes, the book contains nutritional information and dietary exchanges. There are many illustrations although you won't find a picture of every recipe. Of particular help are the many 'Cook's Notes', replete with suggestions and techniques, that appear throughout the book.
I think you will use this book repeatedly. It makes a great addition to your library and would be well received as a gift.